Abstract
Aims and Methods
Medication with anticholinergic action is associated with potentially serious adverse effects in older people. We present an evaluation of a novel anticholinergic burden scale introduced into routine practice in older adult services in South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust. Our aim was to assess whether this tool improved the accurate identification of anticholinergic medication and guided safer prescribing in cognitively vulnerable older people.
Results
The introduction of the AEC tool into clinical practice led to an increase in the identification and reporting to GPs of anticholinergic medication from 11% to 85% of cases (p=0.0015).
Clinical implications
Application of the AEC tool led to improved detection of anticholinergic medication and advice to primary care on when a medication review is necessary. This is an important step towards improving the safety of prescribing in this patient group.
Medication with anticholinergic action is associated with potentially serious adverse effects in older people. We present an evaluation of a novel anticholinergic burden scale introduced into routine practice in older adult services in South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust. Our aim was to assess whether this tool improved the accurate identification of anticholinergic medication and guided safer prescribing in cognitively vulnerable older people.
Results
The introduction of the AEC tool into clinical practice led to an increase in the identification and reporting to GPs of anticholinergic medication from 11% to 85% of cases (p=0.0015).
Clinical implications
Application of the AEC tool led to improved detection of anticholinergic medication and advice to primary care on when a medication review is necessary. This is an important step towards improving the safety of prescribing in this patient group.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 26-30 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | BJPsych Bulletin |
| Early online date | 8 Jul 2019 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 8 Jul 2019 |
Keywords
- Anticholinergics
- older adults
- mental health
- prescribing
- cognitive
